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The  Care  of  the  Baby 

By  Frances  Sage  Bradley,  M.D. 

Chairman  for  Georgia  of  the 

Committee  for  Public  Heahh  Education  Among  Women  of  the  American  Medical  Association: 

State  Chairman  Public  Health  Committee,  Georgia  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs 


Published  by  the 

Department  of  Child-Helping  of  the 
Russell  Sage  Foundation 

105  East  22nd  Street 
New  York  City 


August,  1913 


By 

BIOLOGT 
LIBRARY 


Grateful  acknowledgments  are  extended  to  Dr.  A. 
JacobI,  Dr.  L.  Emmett  Holt,  Dr.  James  Lincoln 
Huntington,  Dr.  Stafford  McLean,  Dr.  Charles  E. 
Boyton  and  Dr.  S.  A.  Visanska,  who  kindly  read 
the  manuscript  of  this  pamphlet  and  offered  helpful 
criticisms  and  suggestions. 


»    >  )  J     3    « 


The  Care  of  the  Baby 


THE  EXPECTANT  MOTHER 

Responsibility       The  finest  thing  on  earth  is  to  bring  into  the  world  a  child  who  will 
grow  up  strong  and  clean  of  body  and  mind,  full  of  courage,  of  energy 
and  ambition  to  carry  on  the  world's  work. 

As  soon  as  you  know  that  a  little  baby  is  coming  engage  the  best  doctor  and  nurse 

you  can  afford. 
Preparation         Many  little  lives  have  been  lost;    many  children  have  become 
for  blind;    the  future  health  of  many  mothers  has  been  lost  through 

Motherhood     false  economy  at  such  times. 

With  your  doctor's  help  get  yourself  into  the  best  possible  condi- 
tion, morally,  mentally  and  physically. 

If  you  wait  until  your  baby  is  born  you  have  waited  nine  months  too  long. 
The  anxious,  overworked,  underfed  woman  cannot  expect  to  have  strong,  vigorous 
children. 

Make  up  your  mind  to  nurse  your  baby  as  the  Lord  intended. 
Expectant  mothers  must  have  plenty  of  simple,  nourishing  food. 

It  is  not  quantity  but  quality  of  food,  and  the  condition  of  a 
Food  woman's  digestion,  that  will  strengthen  the  mother  and  build  up 

bone,  muscle,  and  nerves  for  her  child. 
Pies,  pork  and  fried  food  are  unfit  for  the  expectant  mother.     Remember  that  tea 
and  crackers  alone  will  not  make  milk. 

The  pregnant  woman  needs  meat,  fish  or  chicken  once  a  day;  thoroughly  cooked 
bread  and  cereals;  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables;  and  plenty  of  milk  and  eggs;  also  cocoa, 
broth,  soup,  lemonade,  and  at  least  eight  glasses  of  water  a  day.  She  should  avoid 
strong  tea  and  coffee. 

Buttermilk,  corn  bread,  beet  or  turnip  salad,  okra,  sweet  potatoes,  and  our  own 
field  peas;   plenty  of  ripe  peaches,  grapes,  and  melons  are  good  wholesome  food. 

Keep  the  bowels,  skin,  and  kidneys  acting  freely. 

From  three  meals  a  day  there  is  continued  accumulation  of  waste 
Waste  matter  to  be  thrown  off  by  these  organs. 

Clogging  of  one  means  overwork  for  the  others,  and  trouble  follows. 
Notify  your  doctor  if  the  bowels  do  not  move  at  least  once  a  day;  if  the  kidneys  seem 
sluggish;  if  the  skin  is  parched  and  dry. 

[3l 


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A  c/jjd;  $aJ|,  -w^ter, 'S'pjonge'^to-th'e  Waist  should  be  taken  every  morning,  with  special 
■5'   ', .'.  I  ' '  r' '.'"  -ca're  ^iVen!  t<y  tbe  -nipples. 

Bathing  A  warm  tub-bath  at  night  followed  by  a  rub  of  cocoa-butter  or 

cotton-seed  oil  over  the  breast  and  abdomen  will  insure  a  good  night's 
rest  and  add  greatly  to  later  comfort. 

Loose,  comfortable  clothing  is  essential  to  the  comfort  of  the  woman  and  the  welfare 
of  the  child. 
Clothing  Well-fitting  corsets  during  the  first  six  months  are  not  necessarily 

harmful  to  the  woman  who  feels  their  need. 

The  expectant  mother  needs  more  rest  and  sleep  than  usual.     She  ought  to  have  a 
nap  every  day  and  at  least  eight  hours'  vsleep  at  night,  with  plenty  of 
Rest  and        fresh  air;   if  possible,  she  should  sleep  out-of-doors. 
Exercise  The  working  woman  needs  rest  at  least  six  weeks  before  and  six 

weeks  after  confinement. 
She  must  do  no  heavy  housework,  such  as  washing  and  ironing;  no  scrubbing;   no 
machine  work,  especially  during  the  latter  months. 

She  must  have  moderate  daily  exercise  out-of-doors,  but  never  enough  to  make  her 
overtired. 

Listen  to  no  tales  of  woe;    keep  yourself  happy  and   free  from  all  worry,  care  and 
anxiety. 
General  Heed  the  call  of  your  little  unborn  babe  that  you  receive  it  with 

Care  open  arms  and  heart. 

Do  not  anticipate  trouble,  but  if  there  is  swelling  of  the  hands  or 
feet,  puffing  about  the  eyes,  nausea,  headache,  pain,  or  bleeding,  send  at  once  for  your 
doctor. 

Do  not  send,  but  take  to  the  doctor,  each  month,  a  24-hour  sample  of  urine. 
Put  no  faith  in  fables  of  cravings,  markings,  signs,  or  superstitions.     They  are  all 
unfounded  vagaries  of  ignorant  old  women  and  will  not  bear  investigation. 

With  sane  mind  and  joyful  heart  make  yourself  the  wholesome,  well-balanced,  self- 
,  ..rolled  person  you  want  your  child  to  be. 

During  the  whole  nine  months  save  all  old  underclothing,  bedding,  table  linen,  etc. 
Have  them  washed,  boiled,  aired,  and  folded  away  in  clean  packages 
Preparation      for  emergency  use. 

for  Old  soiled  bed-quilts  and  unclean  clothing  have  laid  many  a  woman 

Confinement    in  her  grave  from  "child-bed  fever." 

When  pains  come  on  send  for  the  doctor  and  nurse. 
Take  a  full  bath,  wash  out  the  bowels  or  take  a  dose  of  salts  or  oil.     Do  the  hair  in 
two  braids. 

Use  only  clean  clothing  for  body  and  bed.     Have  the  bed  prepared  according  to  the 
doctor's  instructions. 

Be  sure  that  your  clothing  and  the  baby's  are  clean,  complete,  and  in  separate  places. 
See  that  all  things  necessary  are  in  the  house  not  later  than  the  sixth  month. 


LIST  OF  NECESSARY  THINGS 

FOR  THE  BABY  X  lb.  sterile  gauze 

i/i  yd.  thin,  light  weight  flannel  ]4  lb.  sterile  absorbent  cotton 

2  light  weight  woolen  blankets  2  doz.  safety-pins,  large  and  small 

3  cotton  and  wool  undershirts 

4  flannel  skirts  FOR  THE  MOTHER 
3  long  outing  flannel  gowns  6  gowns 

6  cotton  slips  iK  Y^-  square  oil  cloth  or  rubber  sheet- 

2  doz.  diapers  i8  in.  ing 

2  doz.  diapers  22  in.  3  yds.  unbleached  muslin 

I  box  boric  acid  2  lbs.  absorbent  cotton 

I  box  talcum  powder  2  lbs.  sterilized  gauze  or  equivalent  in  old 

I  piece  Ivory  soap  clean  cloths 

CARE  OF  BABY  UNDER  ONE  YEAR  OLD 

Be  sure  that  the  doctor  takes  proper  care  of  the  baby's  eyes.     Hundreds  ot  helpless 
babies  have  grown  into  blind  men  and  women  because  their  eyes 
When  the       were  neglected  at  birth. 

Baby  Have  the  baby  rubbed  with  olive  or  cotton-seed  oil,  wrapped   in 

Comes  a  warm  clean  blanket,  and  left  lying  on  its  right  side  till  the  mother 

is  bathed  and  made  comfortable. 

If  the  baby  is  full  term  and  in  good  condition,  give  it  a  sponge-bath  of  warm  water 
and  Ivory  soap,  or  some  other  pure  white  soap,  not  wetting  or  dis- 
Bathing         turbing  the  gauze  or  cotton  dressing  of  the  cord. 

The  cord  must  be  held  in  place  by  an  abdominal  binder,  to  be 
changed  only  when  absolutely  necessary.  Under  no  circumstances  is  the  dressing  to 
be  touched  until  the  cord  dries  off.     Use  no  salve,  grease,  or  powder  on  the  cord. 

A  strong,  healthy  baby  need  not  wear  a  binder  after  the  navel  is  healed. 

After  the  navel  is  healed  the  baby  should  have  a  warm  tub-bath  daily  with  special 
care  to  the  creases  of  the  neck,  back  of  ears,  and  groin.  These  parts  will  not  get  sore 
if  kept  clean  and  dry. 

After  the  baby  is  bathed,  wash  its  eyes  and  mouth  very  gently  with  boric  acid  solution 
using  a  separate  piece  of  gauze  (not  absorbent  cotton)  for  each,  and  burning  the  gauzv 
immediately. 

Never  allow  scurf  to  form  on  the  baby's  head.  Soften  it  with  oil,  wash  gently  with 
warm  water  and  soap,  and  rub  with  witch-hazel  or  alcohol  and  water  in  equal  parts. 

The  baby  should  have  its  own  wash-cloths  and  towels. 

Clothing  Undershirts  of  cotton  and  wool  are  cheaper,  softer  and  more  com- 

fortable than  all  wool. 
Old  flour-sacks  make  good  diapers.     Never  use  heavy  or  rubber  diapers. 
Squares  of  old  soft  cotton  worn  inside  the  diaper  may  be  burned  when  soiled  and  save 
labor. 

Soiled  diapers  must  be  kept  under  water  till  washed  and  must  be  boiled,  thoroughly 
dried  and  aired  each  day. 

Teach  the  baby  habits  of  cleanliness  and  regularity.  A  baby  of  six  months  should 
have  one  or  two  movements  a  day,  usually  after  feeding. 

Do  not  load  the  baby  with  clothing.     A  few  simple  one-piece  garments  are  better. 

[5] 


Dress  the  child  according  to  the  temperature  of  the  day,  not  the  season  of  the  year. 

In  warm  weather  all  the  baby  needs  are  a  shirt  and  diaper,  with  little  slips  for  dress-up 
occasions. 

In  cold  weather  a  long  coat,  cap,  mittens,  and  stockings  fastened  to  the  diaper  are 
necessary. 

In  cold  weather  the  baby  may  have  a  woolen  sleeping  bag  with  a  draw-string  in  the 
bottom. 

The  young  baby  should  do  nothing  but  sleep  and  eat  and  grow. 

Until  he  is  two  months  old  he  needs  from  i8  to  20  hours'  sleep 
Sleep  out  of  the  24. 

The  healthy  baby  will  sleep  from  9  p.  m.  till  6  a.  m.  unless  taught 
bad  habits.     It  is  not  good  for  the  mother  or  child  to  be  disturbed  at  night. 
Never  allow  him  to  be  disturbed  for  anything  but  feeding  and  bathing. 
The  baby  should  not  sleep  with  his  mother.     He  is  entitled  to  the  rights  of  any  other 
individual,  and  should  have  a  bed  to  himself. 

He  will  be  happy  and  content  in  a  basket,  a  box  or  on  a  couple  of  chairs  close  to 
mother's  bed. 

Don't  make  him  sleep  on  feathers,  but  on  a  folded  quilt  or  blanket.  A  tick  filled 
with  straw  makes  a  good  bed  for  the  baby. 

The  baby's  arms  and  legs  must  have  full  play,  that  they  may  grow  strong  and  straight. 
He  should  have  a  pen  all  his  own  with  folded  quilt  to  lie  on,  where 
Exercise         he  may  stretch  and  kick  to  his  heart's  content.     Move  the  pen  into 
the  fresh  air  but  place  it  out  of  the  sun.     Keep  it  covered  with  mos- 
quito netting  when  there  are  any  flies  about. 

From  the  time  he  is  four  weeks  old  he  must  be  a  fresh-air  baby.     Next  to  stomach 

and  bowel  trouble,  bronchitis  and  pneumonia  kill  more  babies  than 

Fresh  Air        any  other  diseases.       The  baby  raised  out-of-doors  is  resistant  to 

disease.     Hot  water  bottles,  hot  bricks  or  stones  may  be  used,  if 

necessary,  to  keep  the  baby  warm  when  out-of-doors. 

Fresh  air  is  as  necessary  to  the  baby  as  fuel  is  to  the  fire. 

Nothing  insures  a  good  supply  ot  breast  milk  like  regular,  persistent  nursing. 

The  baby  should  be  put  to  the  breast  as  soon  after  birth  as  the 
Food  mother  and  child  are  rested. 

The  nipples  should  be  washed  each  time  with  boric  acid  solution. 
For  the  first  month  the  baby  should  be  nursed  every  two  hours  during  the  day  and 
twice  during  the  night.  The  second  month  it  should  be  nursed  every  two  and  a  half 
hours  during  the  day  and  twice  during  the  night.  After  the  second  month  it  should 
be  nursed  every  three  hours  during  the  day  and  once  during  the  night.  After  the  sixth 
month  the  baby  should  be  nursed  once  every  four  hours. 

The  healthy  baby  should  be  nursed  regularly  and  for  not  more  than  twenty  minutes 
at  a  time.     Lay  the  baby  on  his  back  to  rest  after  each  feeding. 

He  gets  little  nourishment  for  the  first  three  days  and  loses  weight,  but  usually  regains 
the  birth  weight  by  end  of  the  first  week,  after  which  he  should  show  a  steady  gain. 

[6] 


The  first  milk,  while  scanty,  satisfies  the  baby  temporarily  and  moves  his  bowels 
better  than  oil,  fat  meat,  or  teas  of  any  kind. 

Insist  that  nothing  shall  go  into  your  baby's  mouth  but  your  own  breast  milk  and  cool 
boiled  water;  no  sugar,  whiskey,  paregoric,  or  soothing  syrup  should  be  given,  however 
much  he  may  cry. 

Never  be  tempted  to  feed  your  baby  except  as  the  Lord  intended.     Mother's  baby 

has  a  right  to  mother's  milk.     No  manufactured  food  is  as  good. 
Reasons  for  Mother's  milk  contains  every  element  necessary  for  the  growth 

Breast  and  development  of  the  child's  body. 

Feeding  It  contains  elements  in  the  right  proportion  for  the  growing  child, 

as  no  other  food  does. 
It  is  absolutely  free  from  filth  and  germs  as  no  other  food  can  be. 
It  protects  the  baby  from  many  infants'  diseases. 

Breast-fed  babies  seldom  have  diarrhea,  the  disease  that  carries  off"  more  babies  than 
any  other  disease  of  childhood. 

Breast-fed  babies  are  easier  to  raise  into  strong,  sturdy  men  and  women. 

Never  consider  weaning  without  first  consulting  the  doctor.  But  believe  that  when 
you  wean  your  baby,  your  troubles  are  beginning.  Your  baby's 
Weaning  life  is  at  stake.  If  absolutely  essential  the  doctor  will  help  you  find 
a  wet-nurse. 

If  no  wet-nurse  can  be  found,  your  doctor  will  teach  you  to  modify  cow's  milk — the 
only  allowable  substitute. 

When  the  baby's  teeth  begin  to  come,  whether  at  eight  months  or  fourteen,  it  is 
nature's  assurance  that  he  is  developing  enough  to  digest  other  food  than  breast  milk. 
Not  until  then  are  you  justified  in  giving  him  anything  else. 

Substitute  for  one  nursing  a  bottle  of  clean  fresh  cow's  milk  modified  according  to 
your  doctor's  instructions.  If  all  goes  well  add  later  a  second  bottle.  Then  try,  one 
at  a  time,  such  simple  things  as  gruel  made  from  cereals,  broth,  soup,  beef  juice,  orange 
juice  and  toasted  bread  (not  fresh  biscuit).  If  he  thrives  on  this  diet  he  should  be  thor- 
oughly weaned  by  twelve  months. 

Milk,  however,  should  be  the  chief  article  of  his  diet  for  two  or  three  years. 

The  young  baby  should  have  three  or  four  stools  in  twenty-four  hours. 

After  the  black  tarry  movements  of  the  first  few  days,  the  stools 
Bowels  should  be  yellow,  smooth,  and  of  even  consistency. 

Any  variation  in  color  or  character,  mucus,  lumps,  green  or  white 
stools,  frothy,  bloody,  constipated  or  loose  movements  all  suggest  faulty  digestion, 
and  should  be  reported  at  once  to  the  doctor. 

Don't  take  the  baby  up  at  the  first  cry.     Try  to  find  out  first  what  the  trouble  is. 

His  vocabulary  is  limited  and  you  may  not  understand  that  he  is 

General         only  asking  to  be  turned  over  or  to  be  changed ;   he  may  be  too  warm 

Care  or  too  cold;    his  clothing  may  be  uncomfortable;    he  may  want  a 

drink;   or  the  wee  one,  though  only  a  few  weeks  old,  may  well  need 

the  comfort  of  his  own  mother's  voice  in  this  strange,  vast  world.     Cuddle  the  baby, 

but  never  let  any  one  kiss  the  baby  on  the  mouth. 

(7) 


Don't  rock,  or  trot,  or  walk  him.     Have  a  little  pity  and  think  how  you  would 
such  treatment. 

Remember  that  he  is  a  human  being,  entitled  to  the  best  care  and  consideratioij 
those  responsible  for  his  being. 

Don't  try  to  make  the  baby  show  off.     The  most  precocious  child  does  not  make 
surest  progress. 

Protect  his  eyes  from  the  glare. 

Protect  his  body  from  mosquitoes  and  flies,  which  carry  filth  and  disease. 

Colic  is  only  another  name  for  indigestion.     Your  doctor  will  help  you  find  the  caij 
If  the  baby  loses  his  milk  soon  after  nursing,  he  is  being  fed 
If  the  Baby  is     much  or  too  often;   or  is  being  handled  while  his  stomach  is  full. 
Sick  If  he  seems  sick,  stop  all  food,  give  a  dose  of  oil,  and  send  for 

doctor. 

Don't  get  panicky  over  teething.     The  breast-fed  baby  will  cut  his  teeth  withl 
trouble  unless  he  has  been  the  victim  of  experiment.     It  is  not  teething  that  makes 
sick,  but  being  upset  with  wrong  feeding  just  when  he  needs  to  be  in  good  conditioi^ 

Depend  upon  your  doctor's  advice  and  obey  his  orders. 
Register  the         Your  marriage  is  recorded.     See  to  it  that  your  baby's  birtl 
Baby's  Birth    registered.     Such  a  record  is  often  of  vital  importance. 


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•lOLOCV 


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THIS  BOOK  IS  DTJU  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
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